Nairobi, Feb 1 (IANS) The newly constituted Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) is ready to roll out its operation to combat the vice after entering a one-year partnership with the Chinese and Norwegian anti-doping bodies.
The ADAK will also work for a year with the Regional Anti-Doping Agency (RADA) as it launches its work following intense pressure on Kenya to take a pro-active stance against proscribed substance use, mostly distance runners, after a huge surge in positive tests in the last two years, reported Xinhua.
Speaking late Saturday when signing the memorandum of understanding that also incorporated the National Olympics Committee of Kenya, the Cabinet Sectary for Sports, Culture and Arts Hassan Wario said the partnership will assist in curbing the doping menace in the country.
“We shall cooperate in the field of anti-doping, share ideas and resources to build a strong and robust anti-doping movement in Kenya, and our efforts shall be geared towards the protection of clean athletes,” said Wario.
“We shall all work together to build a strong and effective agency which will spearhead testing, sensitization, training and investigation,” he added.
The ADAK was formed after WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) threatened to instigate a ban on Kenya from Olympics and IAAF World Championships after a rise in cases involving the country’s runners, 32 in 2014, with the high profile cases including female marathon star, Rita Jeptoo, who tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production).